The commercial heart of Anambra State stopped beating on Tuesday as hundreds of traders poured into the streets of Onitsha, protesting Governor Charles Soludo’s decision to seal the main market.

The unrest follows a high-stakes power play between the state government and the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). On Monday, traders had shuttered their shops in compliance with IPOB’s "sit-at-home" order—a directive demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu. In retaliation, Governor Soludo ordered the market sealed for "economic sabotage," sparking immediate fury.

"Show Us the Law"

Chanting "Say no to Monday" and waving placards reading "Show us the law, Soludo," the traders marched through the humidity of Onitsha, paralyzed the city’s transport arteries. Their anger is twofold: they are caught between the threat of violence from non-state actors if they open, and the threat of state punishment if they close.

"The Governor is punishing the victim," said one trader who requested anonymity. "If we open, unknown gunmen attack us. If we close, the Governor locks us out. We are just grass suffering while two elephants fight."

• The Governor's Gambit: Soludo has staked his administration’s reputation on ending the sit-at-home, which he argues is bleeding the southeast’s economy dry. "Anambra people cannot continue to punish themselves," he declared during an unscheduled visit to the empty market on Monday. He views the closures as a surrender to fear.
• The Reality: The sit-at-home, originally a protest against Kanu’s detention, has morphed into a complex security crisis. Despite Soludo’s assurances, security forces have struggled to guarantee safety in the hinterlands, leaving traders with little choice but to comply with IPOB’s directives.

A Region Held Hostage

The closure of Onitsha Main Market—West Africa’s largest—is a seismic economic event. Billions of Naira are lost daily, and supply chains across Nigeria are disrupted. By sealing the market, Soludo is attempting to force a confrontation, effectively telling traders they must choose a side.

As security operatives watched the peaceful protest from a distance, the standoff remained unresolved. The traders want their shops open, but they also want to live. Until the state can guarantee the latter, the former will remain a deadly gamble.